10/27/2026
On Sunday, March 1, 2026, at approximately 11:25 p.m., officers with the Vero Beach Police Department responded to the intersection of Beachland Boulevard and State Road A1A regarding a two-vehicle traffic crash.
Upon arrival, officers located a Ford F-150 and a Chevrolet Equinox, both of which sustained
significant front-end damage. The Ford F-150 was operated by Tyler Horstman, 29, while the
Chevrolet Equinox was operated by Mariana Jimenez, 20, who was accompanied by a one-yearold child. Both drivers sustained injuries and were transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center for treatment. The one-year old child was not injured.
During the initial investigation, officers determined that the Ford F-150 was owned by the St.
Lucie County Sheriff's Office and that Horstman was an off-duty deputy employed by the agency.
Due to the severity of the crash, Vero Beach Police Department Traffic Homicide Investigators
and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene.
Over the following months, investigators
conducted interviews, collected evidence, and obtained and reviewed vehicle electronic data and
medical records.
The investigation determined that Horstman was traveling eastbound on Beachland Boulevard at
approximately 63 mph in a posted 35 mph zone and entered the intersection of A1A with a green
traffic signal. Jimenez was traveling southbound on A1A and entered the intersection against a red traffic signal.
Investigators further determined that Horstman had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.246.
On October 26, 2026, an arrest warrant was submitted and approved for Horstman on the charge of Driving Under the Influence with a Blood Alcohol Level of 0.15 or Higher, Causing Serious Bodily Injury.
Following the issuance of the warrant, Horstman voluntarily surrendered to the Indian River
County Sheriff's Office and was subsequently released on a $15,000 bond.
The Vero Beach Police Department remains committed to conducting thorough and impartial
investigations, regardless of an individual's position or affiliation.
